Start: Loubens in the centre of the village.
To find on a map: 10 minutes north of Foix off the main route D919 Foix-Toulouse.

Parking: a car park is located in the centre of the
village.

Difficulty: Suitable for children 10+.
There is about 300m of ascent/descent. Good walking shoes/boots are essential.
Water should be carried (always June-Oct as the temperature is generally 25
degrees plus).

Refreshments/Accommodation: 10 minutes from
the historic medieval town of Foix, the capital/administrative centre of the
Ariege Department.

Restaurants at Le Fossat
15 minutes.

The walk starts in the picturesque village of
Loubens, nestling in the foothills of the Pyrenees, hidden from the main
tourist route (D919) from Toulouse to Foix. The route climbs out of the
village up to the top of the ridge above, along the ridge line past a TV mast at
the highest point, before returning to the village in an anti-clockwise loop.

On leaving the car
park next to the tennis court in the centre of Loubens, head east out of the
village past the church, in the direction of Pamiers. At the cemetery,
adjacent to the church, turn left onto the
yellow
way marked path leading through the trees directly up the hillside. Follow
this path upwards and to the right. You will enter the edge of an oak
wood; the path continues up and to the right following a small ridge line.
You will after about 25-30 mins come out on to a metallic road; turn left on
this farm road following the sign 'Le Pech de Limouzy'. After passing a
farm on your right on a bend, 200m further on you take a signposted and
yellow
marked track up the side of a field and into the woods. This track with
bring you out on the top of the ridge after about another 20-25 mins.
Continue straight ahead. You will now get fantastic 360 degrees views from
the Montagne Noir to the east all the way round to Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the
west. Continue along the track up to the high point 'Le Pech de Limouzy'
passing the television mast. After a partial descent the main track bears
to the left at an old ruin. Take this track, which immediately descends;
after approximately 800m the track levels out and turns right; you must
continue straight on at this point; look out for a yellow VTTmountain biking sign with dots and an arrow which is attached to a tree.
Carefully follow this path observing the
yellow markers that direct you back to the
village which can be seen in the valley to your front. In the village
centre turn left towards the church, returning to the car park.

Printable version.

Case Walk 1: Chateau Roquefixade

Start: Roquefixade centre of the village.
To find on a map: 20 minutes east of Foix on the D9A, just north off the
main route to Lavelanet.

Difficulty: Suitable for children 7+. My 4 year
old daughter managed it with no problem! There is about 300m of
ascent/descent. Good walking shoes/boots are essential. Water should be carried
(always June-Oct as the temperature is generally 25 degrees plus). The
descent is a little steep in places but short and not dangerous.

The walk starting at the village of Roquefixade, below the
impressive Cathar castle of the same name, is still one of my favourites.
The village itself is pretty, nestling below limestone crags. From the
church follow the signs to the Gite Etape (behind the church) and then at the
Gite turn right finding the
red
markers. The path initially takes you out along the ancient Cather Way for
about 500m, then turns left (now follow yellow markers), climbing up through
old deciduous woodland, through giant old beach trees, eventually bringing you
out on top of the limestone ridge. Here you then get some fine views of
the Pays d'Olmes mountain range and across the wide valley to the more famous
Montsegur Cathar stronghold perched high on a rocky crag. You continue
along the wide ridge which opens out into grassland, with views all round,
towards Toulouse and around towards Mirepoix, Carcassonne and the Black
Mountains on the far horizon. In spring there is a carpet of wild flowers, with
a myriad of colours, plus butterflies and hummingbird-months busily gathering
pollen. In a short while you come to a point directly above the Chateau,
with more views to the high Ariege Pyrenees and back down the valley towards
medieval Foix. The castle is worth a visit

(it is free!) and is a good
distraction for children who will want to scramble inside the walls - but
please pay attention as there are no safety barriers and the drop from the
top is a long way down! You can ignore the castle and descend easily and
quickly (it is a bit steep but not difficult) joining again the Cathar Way following the
red markers to return to
the village.

I highly recommend you take a small detour to the Gite Etape
in Roquefixade for a well earned refreshment!

Printable Version.

Case Walk 2: Le cirque de Cagateille.

Start: After Saints Girons, take the D618 towards
Seix-Guzet, then D3 up to Pont-de-Taule, then the D8 direction Ustou-Guzet.
On leaving Le Trein, turn right on the D38 to Bielle, Saint Lizier,
Estillon. Follow the valley towards the high mountains, after the last
hamlet cross the stream and continue to the end of the road. There is a
car park 'la Peyre' and information/map. Le cirque de Cagateille is
signposted from Le Trein.

To find on a map: Carte de Randonnee 2048 OT
Aulus-Les-Bains. Grid C10.

The walk: Leave the car park towards the high
mountains/valley head, climbing for 50m up to the left following the Red/White
markers towards the Le cirque de Cagateille/l'Etang de la Hillette/Port de
Couillac. Follow the path straight through the beech & oak forest for
about 30 mins. You will then leave the trees, entering an open, grassy
valley with the cirque de Cagateille in front of you. You can then sit by
the stream, relax & enjoy the magnificent scenery. The path continues up
the face of the cirque, towards l'Etang de la Hillette....this is a superb, but
rough & steep route...this is another story!